Here we have a wonderfully honest, all-original 1944 Omega reference 2383-4 in stainless steel, fitted with the legendary Omega Cal. 30T2 manual-wind movement. The case is a proper mid-40s tool-watch shape with a screw-back and tidy, purposeful lines that still present very well today.
The real headline, though, is the dial. This Omega carries a beautifully period all-Arabic numeral dial with a crisp railroad minute track and a slightly recessed small-seconds sub-dial that gives the watch its classic military-era balance. It’s exactly the sort of highly legible layout that made sense in the 1940s—quick to read, no fuss, and built for daily use. The dial has aged naturally over the decades, and rather than trying to “over-clean” history out of it, we’ve kept it as it is: original, untouched, and full of character.
Powering the watch is Omega’s famously robust 30T2—a movement family renowned for reliability and ease of long-term service. This is the same movement “bloodline” that Omega used for many of its hard-working 1940s pieces, including the British military Omega WWW watches often associated with the wider “Dirty Dozen” collecting world.
It is fitted with its correct, original unsigned crown—exactly the sort of detail we love to see on these early steel Omegas.
The Cal. 30T2 story: Omega introduced the 30T2 family at the end of the 1930s and it went on to become one of the brand’s most respected hand-wound workhorse calibres—simple, strong, and extremely well-regarded by watchmakers and collectors.
Military connection (in spirit and in hardware): While this watch is not being sold as a specific issued military piece, the all-Arabic/railroad style is exactly the visual language of the era’s service watches—and the fact that the 30T2/30T2SC family appears in Omega’s WWW military watches is a big part of why these are so collectable today.
Swedish “Suverän” link: The 30T2 family also crops up in many Sweden-market Omega watches from the same broad period that collectors often group under the “Suverän” umbrella—another reason this movement has such a strong reputation in 1940s Omega circles.
Founded by Louis Brandt in 1848, Omega started out as La Generale Watch Co., an unassuming, but international business. It wasn't until 1885, when the company had been taken over by Louis' sons, that the first mass-produced caliber, the Labrador, was released. By 1903, the company had renamed itself Omega and only two years later were they the official timekeepers at many sporting events across Switzerland. Omega stepped onto an international stage in 1932 as the official timekeepers at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the first of over 20 Olympic Games. Omega were one of the 12 companies, now known as the Dirty Dozen, commissioned to produce watches for the British Military during the Second World War. One of Omega's most iconic watches, the Seamaster, was introduced in 1948 to celebrate their 100th anniversary. Over 70 years later, it is still one of Omega's best selling watches.
This watch comes fully serviced by our on-site workshop and with a 12 month, non-waterproof service cover
What we think
This is one of those watches that feels right the moment you handle it. The case has the clean, practical mid-century proportions we love, but it’s the dial that really sells it—an original all-Arabic layout with just the right amount of honest age. we opted for an up to date but yet fitting sand colour suede quality strap which looks great!
The best detail, though, came when we serviced it: the watch still had its original lead case-back seal present. These were effectively one-time-use seals and they’re functionally pointless today—but as a sign of originality and a life that’s clearly not been messed with, it’s a brilliant little time capsule moment. We’ve now replaced it with a modern rubber seal for sensible day-to-day use, but the fact it was still there tells you everything about how untouched this Omega has been.
If you want a 1940s Omega that leans into the military-era aesthetic without shouting about it, this is a properly special one.
Spec Stuff
Serial : 1049****
Reference : 2383-4
Movement :Cal. 30T2 Age :1941/1950 Specific Age :1944 Case Size : 35mm Case Thickness : 11mm Lug to Lug : 42mm Lugs : 18mm Condition : Pre-Owned Box & Papers : No Case Material : Stainless Steel Service History : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
